Additional family friendly rights being introduced

The government have announced that a new right to neonatal leave and pay will be introduced from 6 April 2025.

Parents whose babies who are admitted into neonatal care up to 28 days old, and who have a continuous stay in hospital of 7 full days or longer, will be eligible to take up to 12 weeks of leave. Leave must be taken in blocks of one week. The right will apply to employees from day one of their employment.

Employees who have more than 26 weeks’ service and meet a minimum earnings threshold will also be entitled to the benefit. The rate of pay has not been specified but it would be reasonable to expect that it will be at the same rate used for Statutory Maternity and Paternity Pay.

This new right is on top of any other leave entitlement, such as maternity or paternity leave, and the government has said it expects around 60,000 new parents will benefit.